Eleana Little
for Jersey City
ABOUT
Eleana Little
Advocate. Engineer. Progressive.
Eleana Little is a neighbor who is passionate about public service. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering from Rutgers University and her Master’s from the University of California, Berkeley. From her time in college working as a lead for a water supply project with Engineers Without Borders to fighting for progressive causes like Right to Counsel, Eleana has been a leader who cares about everyday people. Eleana is running for city council in Ward E, without taking money from developers and special interests, to make sure the city puts needs of everyday people first.
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For many years, Eleana has been an active member of the Friends of Liberty State Park, and has traveled to Trenton on multiple occasions to speak out against the privatization of our public land. She was also the 2021-22 President of the Harsimus Cove Association and the 2021 President of the Downtown Coalition of Neighborhood Associations, where she worked to organize civic forums, connect residents with resources, and advocate for neighborhood concerns.
Eleana has been a pioneer in local progressive politics, previously serving as Executive Vice President of the Progressive Democrats of Hudson County: an organization dedicated to helping progressives run for local office. She has organized local volunteers to help flip swing districts and volunteer in national elections on the steering committee of NJ-08 for Progress and as a lead organizer of Jersey City for Biden in 2020. In 2021, Eleana was part of a slate of women candidates who challenged and eliminated the gender requirement for the Hudson County Democratic Committee and was subsequently elected to the committee, representing Jersey City Ward E District 13. In this role, she continued to advocate for her community, such as advocating for stop signs on Erie Street and Coles Street.
Eleana has been a dedicated advocate, working alongside activists and allies to push our local government to work for everyday people. From the Airbnb referendum, to tenant’s right to counsel, to protecting Liberty State Park, Eleana has been there for the tough fights. Her work has earned her accolades from the city as the 2022 Woman of Action for Ward E in addition to a 2023 Extraordinary Woman of the Year Award from Educational Gilmore Speaks, LLC. She is running for city council to continue to amplify the voices of everyday people and secure the progress that we deserve from our city government.
ON THE ISSUES
Eleana’s Priorities
Housing Affordability
Housing is a human right, yet we face a national housing shortage. We need to build more housing that’s affordable for everyday people at all income levels, while continuing to advance tenants’ rights.
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As your councilperson, Eleana would:
Re-examine Redevelopment Plans (RDPs) to identify and implement opportunities for the creation of new affordable housing, schools, and parks.
Amend Chapter 260 of our municipal code so that developments in RDPs can “age into” rent control after any new construction or substantial rehabilitation exemptions run out, just like developments elsewhere in the City.
Prevent renters from paying broker fees.
Define “unconscionable” rent increases as anything 10% or greater.
Safe and Sustainable Transportation
Our streets should be safe for all modes of transportation. Jersey City must improve its streets, cycling network, and mass transit system so people of all ages, incomes, and abilities can move freely.
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As your councilperson, Eleana would:
Improve the design and layout of our streets to make them safer for all road users, particularly the most vulnerable.
Improve and expand Via service and availability.
Standing up for our Freedoms and our Communities
Over the next four years, many of Jersey City’s communities will be under attack. Our local government should stand up for our freedoms and protect us and our neighbors from the worst of a second Trump term.
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As your councilperson, Eleana would:
Support community-based mental health services.
Strengthen protections for vulnerable communities.
Support minority-owned businesses.
Seek to attract an affordable clinic to Downtown to improve access for Jersey City residents to reproductive and LGBTQ+ healthcare.
Protect our fundamental First Amendment rights, including the right to protest.
Government Services and Accountability
For too long, Jersey City’s budget has been abused by unscrupulous politicians who reward cronies while basic city services like 911 and trash collection deteriorate. You deserve to get the most from your tax dollars.
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As your councilperson, Eleana would:
Audit the city’s departments for waste, fraud, and abuse.
Fully fund the city’s 9-1-1 service, fairly compensating operators, and hiring more operators to maintain safe staffing levels.
Re-evaluate the city’s contracts to ensure they meet high ethical standards and deliver quality services.
Preparing for Climate Change
As the climate changes, Downtown Jersey City will see higher floods and stronger storms. The city government has a duty to build protective infrastructure and to reduce Jersey City’s greenhouse gas emissions.
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As your councilperson, Eleana would:
Build the Dudley/Washington Street Levee, Hudson River Waterfront Boardwalk Levee, and Wet Weather Pumping Station projects described in the Adaptation Master Plan which will help make downtown more resilient against flooding and storm surge.
Implement the Adaptation Master Plan’s proposal of a climate impact fee on new development which will fund a green infrastructure bank.
Adopt a green building code which would require energy efficiency standards and include stormwater and heat mitigation elements, such as cool roofs.
Protecting and Adding Parks and Green Space
Green spaces improve mental and physical health. We must not only defend those spaces — like Liberty State Park — from greedy billionaires, but also add and integrate greenery to our urban environment.
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As your councilperson, Eleana would:
Extract parks and green spaces from development.
Support the Embankment Preservation Coalition in their fight to guarantee open green space in Harsimus Cove.
Improve our urban tree canopy.
Do you think something is missing?
Are you passionate about a cause?
Eleana wants to hear from you!
Submit your ideas:
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